Page 51 of Hidden Fates

Sipping the drink, I understand why he wanted me to try it. It’s smooth and sweet with some sort of berry flavoring.

“That’s good.”

I pass it back to him, trying not to stare as he downs the rest of it. Watching his throat work each time he swallows has my cock thickening.

Spinning on my heel, I lead us further onto the floor. We started at the top of the building and have worked our way down, enjoying each of the interactive exhibits as we went.

“Hell yeah.” Bee wraps an arm around my shoulders, something he’s done a lot tonight. His concept of personal space is nonexistent. He steers me through an open set of double doors to our left, into a giant theater. On the screen is the menu for a rhythm game where you use special guitar controllers. “You versus me, then Emmett can battle the winner.”

“I’ll sit this one out,” Quentin adds. He shrugs when I peek back at him. “I have precisely zero musical talent and as much rhythm as a newborn.”

“We all have our talents. You carried us through the historical parts of the trivia earlier.”

“That we do.” His relaxed smile is weird to see. I haven’t known any of these guys for long, but in that short time I don’t think I’ve seen a genuine one out of him.

“Come on, Cay,” Bellamy claps his hands, glancing between the controllers before passing me the black one and taking the red for himself.

I don’t know how I feel about him shortening my name, but I let it slide. We’ve all been drinking and having fun, so I doubt it will stick.

“What song should we do first?”

He flips through the options before we settle on a classic metal song. Time flies as we play, taunting each other as we fly through the playlist on expert. I’m sweaty and tired when we give up the controllers for another group that stumbles in.

As I observe Skye’s other mates, I can’t hide the content spreading across my face. This is what I always dreamed a pack would feel like. The easy camaraderie, the sense of kinship. This is what I’ve been missing.

“Ready to head home?” Quentin asks, his phone out to order us a ride share.

“I’m wiped, dude. Let’s bail,” Bellamy leans against me, his head on my shoulder. “If I’m lucky, I can sneak into the nest and wake up knotted.”

I nearly choke on my tongue, stumbling over my feet as we follow the others to the exit. My cock is so fucking hard just imagining watching him take one of the other Alpha’s knots. Sterling said he’s a brat, and after tonight I know he has a mouth on him. I bet he’d taunt them the entire time. Riling them until they snap and pin him to the mattress. And I could join them.

No. Fuck. I might have accepted I’m attracted to Bellamy, but my focus needs to be on Skye. I have to fix things between us. She is most important.

After that…I guess we’ll see what happens. I’m not going to dwell on maybe when I have a definite waiting at home.

Home. I’ve only spent one night at the estate, yet it feels like I belong there. I’m more comfortable walking their stone floors than I ever was in the tiny apartment I shared with Joey, Matt, and Lee.

Every moment spent with this pack reminds me how out of place I’ve felt over the past eight years.

And now I’m back where I belong. With Skye.

“I’m glad you joined us tonight.” Quentin stops me in the foyer, one foot on the stairs. “We want you to feel welcome in our pack, Caleb. Not just as Skye’s mate, but as our friend.”

“I’m starting to see that.”

He leaves me to make my way to my new bedroom alone.

The house is quiet. Peaceful. I groan when I push open my bedroom door and remember I never finished unpacking. Dropping the boxes against the wall by the desk, I leave them for tomorrow.

I don’t bother to pull the covers over my body before I pass out, my mind blissfully free of regrets for once.

Chapter Seventeen

Last night was fun. I could see the weight our night out took off Caleb’s shoulders, helping him to feel like he fits in.

Or at least it did until Onyx joined us at the table for breakfast. Those two need to talk. Caleb can’t be intimidated by our pack leader, and Onyx can’t keep blaming Caleb for something he didn’t know was happening. Ever since we explained the bond sickness to him, he’s stepped up. Watching Skye’s emotions and making sure she gets plenty of physical touch and scent pheromones from him.

Onyx is just being stubborn. If he doesn’t knock it off, I’m going to lock the two of them in a small room. Well, I won’t, but I will suggest it to Bellamy, and he absolutely will.